D90 or D300

rwmj

I have been using a D40x and a 16-85mm lens for the last year and find that I am doing more tripod shots and am concerned about the mirror slap, as well as upgrading to a better camera.

I gather the D90 has an exposure delay that could address this and the D300 a mirror lockup. I am not really interested in the video capability of the D90 and am thinking maybe this is a good time to pick up a D300 that might be traded in for a D300s, or other reasons. I am not a frequent shooter and do landscape and nature photography almost exclusively but
would like a better sealed and more robust camera body.

I gather the D300 is a sufficiently well designed camera that a used body from a reputable store like B&H would be a reasonable risk even with a 30 day warranty. On the other hand I am not entirely certain what I would be gaining with the D300 over the D90, other than better weather sealing, for the kind of photography I do.

So I have questions both about the relative merits of the D300 vs the D90 for my uses and the btter warranty coverage with a new D90.

Any experience or suggestions are most appreciated.

Roy

Qarik

they share the same sensor so ISO and IQ is similar. The D300 has a pro AF system though. It has 51 focal points while the D90 has 11 and is more accurate, robust, faster, and true. If you intend to shoot any sport then D300 is the way to go. If sports is not in your future then D90 will serve you well.

cab.in.boston

I go through this in my head constantly.

I have a D90, and love it. There are only a couple of things about it I would change, and the main one is that my hands are large (I'm 6'5") and the angle of the shutter release button is a little awkward for me. The D300s is much more comfortable in my hand.

Spec-wise, as you have seen, the D90 does just about everything the D300/s does, it's just that the 300 does more of it. Faster frame rate, more bracketing, etc.

Depending on the conditions in which you shoot, the robustness of the D300 may be critical, although I don't baby the D90. I wouldn't shoot with it in a rainstorm, but I've taken it out in snow. I think one big thing that you might like is the bracketing, if you do HDR shots in your landscape and nature work. D90 brackets, but only up to 3 shots, while the 300 will do 9, IIRC.

Otherwise, the autofocus mechanism is much better in the 300, and has 51 pts instead of 11. Basically you can pick almost any point in the viewfinder to focus on. And from just a few minutes of playing with a D300s in the store, shooting with it is an entirely different experience than my D90, and I don't mean to imply that the D90 is bad by any means.

So anyway, moral of the story, you can get great results with a D90, and if you don't need 14-bit RAW or high frame rate or 9-frame bracketing, maybe you should save the money and/or put it towards glass. Either way, both are very nice bodies and you'll enjoy either.

nwcubsman

The following link will take you to some test results that claims the d90 has the highest dynamic range of any of the Nikon DX format cameras. It was only surpassed by the d3 and d700. How much difference in the real world is debatable. I have a d90 and get great results. The high ISO performance is about identical. I have found a couple of instances where I wish I had a feature from the d300, but at twice the price new and still a significant difference used, i would probably spend the money on the glass rather than the body. The body will always be obsoleted by new features, but the glass should be good forever if the DX / FX format doesn't change. Just my .02. Sounds like you had pretty much made up your mind to me, and if the d300 makes you happier, then that is where you should be. I will upgrade, but probably when the d400 comes out. Good Luck!

http://www.nikonians.org/forums/dcboard.php?az=set_threaded_mode&forum=150&topic_id=223238&prev_page=show_topic&gid=223238#223847

ziggy53

nwcubsman wrote:

The following link will take you to some test results that claims the d90 has the highest dynamic range of any of the Nikon DX format cameras. It was only surpassed by the d3 and d700. How much difference in the real world is debatable. I have a d90 and get great results. The high ISO performance is about identical. I have found a couple of instances where I wish I had a feature from the d300, but at twice the price new and till a significant difference used, i would probably spend the money on the glass rather than the body. The body will always be obsoleted by new features, but the glass should be good forever if the DX / FX format doesn't change. Just my .02. Sounds like you had pretty much made up your mind to me, and if the d300 makes you happier, then that is where you should be. I will upgrade, but probably when the d400 comes out. Good Luck!

http://www.nikonians.org/forums/dcboard.php?az=set_threaded_mode&forum=150&topic_id=223238&prev_page=show_topic&gid=223238#223847

Nwcubsman, welcome to the Digital Grin.

Thanks for the link, but you need to be registered with the Nikonians to view the thread.

You can also compare the Nikon D90 and D300 cameras at DXOMark.com

Zerodog

I had a D90 and now have a 300s. I upgraded for the body and the autofocus.

What I notice between the 2 is this. The 300s focus system is incredible. The images I get from it are consistently sharper than those of the D90 at 1:1 crops. This is with moving subjects and things in low light. They share the same sensor, so the auto focus make a difference.. Lab tests show the sensor performance as the same, but they do not show auto focus accuracy. More points = more resolution for your focus system?

rwmj

Qarik wrote:

they share the same sensor so ISO and IQ is similar. The D300 has a pro AF system though. It has 51 focal points while the D90 has 11 and is more accurate, robust, faster, and true. If you intend to shoot any sport then D300 is the way to go. If sports is not in your future then D90 will serve you well.

Thanks Qarik
Not plnning to shoot sports so maybe D90 is all I need.

rwmj

cab.in.boston wrote:

I go through this in my head constantly.

I have a D90, and love it. There are only a couple of things about it I would change, and the main one is that my hands are large (I'm 6'5") and the angle of the shutter release button is a little awkward for me. The D300s is much more comfortable in my hand.

Spec-wise, as you have seen, the D90 does just about everything the D300/s does, it's just that the 300 does more of it. Faster frame rate, more bracketing, etc.

Depending on the conditions in which you shoot, the robustness of the D300 may be critical, although I don't baby the D90. I wouldn't shoot with it in a rainstorm, but I've taken it out in snow. I think one big thing that you might like is the bracketing, if you do HDR shots in your landscape and nature work. D90 brackets, but only up to 3 shots, while the 300 will do 9, IIRC.

Otherwise, the autofocus mechanism is much better in the 300, and has 51 pts instead of 11. Basically you can pick almost any point in the viewfinder to focus on. And from just a few minutes of playing with a D300s in the store, shooting with it is an entirely different experience than my D90, and I don't mean to imply that the D90 is bad by any means.

So anyway, moral of the story, you can get great results with a D90, and if you don't need 14-bit RAW or high frame rate or 9-frame bracketing, maybe you should save the money and/or put it towards glass. Either way, both are very nice bodies and you'll enjoy either.

Thanks cab.in.boston
I don't have large hands and don't photograph action so maybe D90 is the ticket for me.
Roy

rwmj

nwcubsman wrote:

The following link will take you to some test results that claims the d90 has the highest dynamic range of any of the Nikon DX format cameras. It was only surpassed by the d3 and d700. How much difference in the real world is debatable. I have a d90 and get great results. The high ISO performance is about identical. I have found a couple of instances where I wish I had a feature from the d300, but at twice the price new and still a significant difference used, i would probably spend the money on the glass rather than the body. The body will always be obsoleted by new features, but the glass should be good forever if the DX / FX format doesn't change. Just my .02. Sounds like you had pretty much made up your mind to me, and if the d300 makes you happier, then that is where you should be. I will upgrade, but probably when the d400 comes out. Good Luck!

http://www.nikonians.org/forums/dcboard.php?az=set_threaded_mode&forum=150&topic_id=223238&prev_page=show_topic&gid=223238#223847

Thanks nwcubsman
I could use some more glass but hoping to make a purchase that won't need upgrading for many years. Still it sounds like D90 is virtually all I need.
Roy

rwmj

Zerodog wrote:

I had a D90 and now have a 300s. I upgraded for the body and the autofocus.

What I notice between the 2 is this. The 300s focus system is incredible. The images I get from it are consistently sharper than those of the D90 at 1:1 crops. This is with moving subjects and things in low light. They share the same sensor, so the auto focus make a difference.. Lab tests show the sensor performance as the same, but they do not show auto focus accuracy. More points = more resolution for your focus system?

Thanks Zerodog
Your feedback is useful.
Roy

jthomas

I'll just throw in my $0.02 worth. I went from a D200 to a D90 and have been very happy with the change. The only thing I miss is the ability to meter with older AI and AIS lenses. I really like the improved image quality and the much lighter, somewhat smaller body.

slipkid

If you find the D90 too small get the battery grip, it works well.

cab.in.boston

slipkid wrote:

If you find the D90 too small get the battery grip, it works well.

If this was meant for me, that wouldn't fix my issue. It's not as much the size of the body that doesn't work with my hands, it's more the angle of the shutter release. The button is fairly close to horizontal on the D90, while it's more angled on the D300. The location of the button on top of the grip and almost horizontal means I have to stretch my index finger in a somewhat uncomfortable manner. It's fine for a while, but extended shooting leads to some fatigue between my first and second fingers. The D300 release and grip was much more natural to me. That said, I really don't want to seem like I'm complaining about my camera, I do love the D90, it's really the only nit I have to pick with it. And, I still would like to get the D90 battery grip, too.

slipkid

With the grip on it changes you hand position, at least for me. See if you can try one out, you might like it.